Kuwait
30 June 2002 – 15 September 2002
Hon.Sheila Mc.Hake MLA Minister for Culture and the Art;
Premier Hon.Geoff Gallop, H.E. Mr.Nasser al Muzayyan,
Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to Australia, and Mr. Alan
R.Dodge, Director of the Art Gallery of Western Australia .
On loan from the al-Sabah Collection, Dar
al-Athar al-Islamiyyah, Kuwait National Museum.
A major international exhibition of Islamic art
objects and paintings from the al-Sabah
Collection in Kuwait. This stunning exhibition
traces the role of patronage, both public and
private, and contains many of the world's finest
examples of Islamic arts ranging from jewel
encrusted objects, rare ceramics from the ninth
century to finely detailed miniatures and
manuscripts.
The exhibition presents a wide range of objects
produced between the eighth and eighteenth
centuries and in countries stretching from Spain
to India and throughout the Middle East.
Exhibition organised by the Kuwait National
Museum.
Syria. 1st half 14th century AD,
diametre 48.3 cm.
The al-Sabah Collection, Dar
al-Athar al-Islamiyyah, Kuwait
National Museum
latest exhibition at the Art Gallery of Western Australia.
"Islamic Art and Patronage: Treasures from Kuwait"
originates from the Kuwait National Museum and has
been touring major museums overseas. It will be
showing at the Art Gallery of WA, 30 June – 15
September 2002.
To support this stunning exhibition, we've collected
stories of Moslem people in Perth in order to explore
the diversity of those of the Islamic faith in our
community and to break down stereotypes.
AD. Height 10.5cm
The al-Sabah Collection, Dar al-Athar
al-Islamiyyah, Kuwait National Museum.
arts ranging from jewel-encrusted objects, rare ceramics
from the 9th century, to finely detailed miniatures and
written texts.
Unlike Christian art, Islamic art is not restricted to the
religious sphere but can be found within all facets of
daily life. Art in Islamic culture reinforces the belief that
beauty has always been and always will be a quality of
the divine – to surround yourself with beauty brings you
closer to God.
This principle means that all art forms, from painting to
craft and architectural decoration, are equivalent in
importance. However, it is the arts associated with
writing that are considered the noblest form of
expression, as these are directly associated with the
writing of the Islam Holy book, the Qur'an.
Beautiful writing or calligraphy can be found in
manuscripts, metalwork and textiles as well as within
architecture as a way of reminding people of the
Holiness of the word of God
The al-Sabah Collection, Dar al-Athar
al-Islamiyyah, Kuwait National Museum.
